[Richardm]

Hi This is Richard's wife Helen.

One of our chickens, a west sussex speckled, Bella is not looking good.

Firstly I thought she was broody as spent at least the last 24 hours if not longer in the next box.  I finally picked her up out of there and noticed her feathers on her chest were looking a bit tatty.

On looking at her more closely, she has a huge patch of bare skin just below her neck, about the size of an egg.  (apologies for not knowing the correct names of each chicken body part - I'm fairly new to this!).  Whilst outside, she did eat a little, but was quite irritated, flapping around a lot and was desperate to get back into her house.  Then she started pecking at herself.  First around her wings and feet and then at her chest.  So I'm guessing this patch of bare skin is down to her?

So I have no idea if she has some sort of parasite (she's kept with two bantams who are bahaving as normal), although she has plenty of areas to dust bath, or if she's self harming due to the broodiness??

Any ideas or advise would be appreciated.

[Foxy]

are you SURE shes not broody?
they end up quite bald in the breast area by pulling out their feathers to line their nests and are extremely irritable when off the nest! Mine had a go at one of my siamese tonight -poor thing!

[bedifferent]

They sometimes pull out the feathers on their breasts when broody to improve transference of heat to the eggs. When broody they can also be very out of sorts. Have you tried putting a small collection of eggs near her to see what she does?

[Richardm]

Its sounds like she is just (!) broody then, as all the signs indicate this, apart from the bare chest.  I had no idea they pulled their own feathers out for this reason!!

Thank you so much for the speedy response and putting my mind at rest!

I have a neighbour who has offered to give me some fertilised eggs - but I'm not sure this is a good idea.  Is this easier than removing her from her enclosure and nesting area?

[Foxy]

If you are intending to let her hatch some eggs it is a good idea to remove her to somewhere quiet so the the other birds dont disturb her -a small coop or second hand hutch is a good idea. My best advise though is to think very carefully about what are you going to do with the chicks once they are hatched? Are you happy and the neighbours with cockerels?
If you decide to hatch some good luck it is soooo exciting!!!!  

[Richardm]

With the relief that Bella's feather plucking is normal, and not self abuse, I think I'm less than experienced to have her hatching fertile eggs!

I have another pen, so based on the advice on these pages, I'm going to put her in there by herself for a few days as there is only a small low perch but no nest boxes.  Are there any indicators that she no longer has the desire to hatch her imaginary eggs?

[swede]

With the relief that Bella's feather plucking is normal, and not self abuse, I think I'm less than experienced to have her hatching fertile eggs!

I have another pen, so based on the advice on these pages, I'm going to put her in there by herself for a few days as there is only a small low perch but no nest boxes.  Are there any indicators that she no longer has the desire to hatch her imaginary eggs?

:?: You can try giving her a few golf balls to sit on, She will sit on them for some time then give up and return to normal. Hopefully start laying again. swede.